History of Laurel and Hardy in Timeline
Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, a British-American comedy duo, achieved international fame during the early Classical Hollywood era. Their slapstick routines, featuring Laurel's clumsy character and Hardy's pompous one, entertained audiences from the silent film era through the mid-1950s. Their signature song, "The Cuckoo Song", became synonymous with their bowler-hatted personas.
1905: Move to Glasgow
In 1905, the Jefferson family relocated to Glasgow.
1909: Working with Fred Karno
Stan Laurel began working for Fred Karno in 1909, where he served as a supporting actor and Charlie Chaplin's understudy.
1912: Tour of the United States
Stan Laurel toured the United States with the Fred Karno Troupe in 1912.
1913: Start at Lubin Motion Pictures
Oliver Hardy started working at Lubin Motion Pictures in 1913.
1914: First Film and Marriage
Oliver Hardy's first film, "Outwitting Dad," was released in 1914. He also married Madelyn Saloshin around this time.
1916: Work with Vim Comedy Company
Between 1914 and 1916, Oliver Hardy made numerous short films with Vim Comedy Company.
1917: Move to California
Following the decline of the Florida film industry, Oliver Hardy moved to California in 1917 with his wife Madelyn.
1917: Film Debut and Partnership with Mae Dahlberg
Stan Laurel made his film debut in 1917 alongside Mae Dahlberg, with whom he also had a personal relationship. He also began using the name "Stan Laurel" around this time.
September 1920: The Lucky Dog: A First Meeting
Laurel and Hardy appeared together for the first time, albeit in separate roles, in the silent film "The Lucky Dog," estimated to have been produced between September 1920 and January 1921.
January 1921: The Lucky Dog: A First Meeting
Laurel and Hardy appeared together for the first time, albeit in separate roles, in the silent film "The Lucky Dog," estimated to have been produced between September 1920 and January 1921.
1921: First Appearance Together (Unteamed)
In 1921, Laurel and Hardy appeared in the same film, "The Lucky Dog," but they were not yet a comedy team.
May 1925: Joining Hal Roach Studios
From May 1925, Stan Laurel began working at Hal Roach Studios as a director and writer.
September 1926: End of Directorial and Writing Period at Hal Roach
By September 1926, Laurel had been credited in at least 22 films at Hal Roach Studios.
1926: Joining the Roach Comedy All Stars
Both Laurel and Hardy joined the Roach Comedy All Stars in 1926, a group of actors appearing in various films, marking a significant step in their careers.
1926: 45 Minutes From Hollywood: Another Early Appearance
Laurel and Hardy appeared separately in the Hal Roach Studios film "45 Minutes From Hollywood" in 1926.
1926: First Appearance in a Short Film
Laurel and Hardy first appeared together in a short film in 1926 after signing contracts with Hal Roach Studios.
December 3, 1927: Putting Pants on Philip: An Official Pairing
Laurel and Hardy's first official film as a comedic duo was "Putting Pants on Philip," released on December 3, 1927, featuring Laurel's mishaps with kilts.
1927: Sailors, Beware!: The Birth of Trademarks
In the 1927 film "Sailors, Beware!" Hardy developed two of his trademark moves: the "tie twiddle" to express embarrassment after being unexpectedly splashed with water, and the "camera look" to share his frustration directly with the audience.
1927: Lost Laurel and Hardy Films
Several Laurel and Hardy films from 1927 are considered lost or partially lost, including "Hats Off," "Now I'll Tell One," and portions of "The Battle of the Century."
1927: Official Formation of Laurel and Hardy
In 1927, Laurel and Hardy officially became a comedy team with the release of "Putting Pants on Philip".
1927: McCarey's Influence
Leo McCarey, their supervising director, suggested the pairing of Laurel and Hardy in 1927 and played a crucial role in developing their comedic style.
1929: Laurel's Writing Role
By 1929, Laurel took on the primary writing responsibilities for the duo's films, often rewriting scenes and encouraging improvisation, essentially acting as an uncredited director.
1929: Unaccustomed As We Are: "OH!" Makes its Debut
Hardy's other well-known catchphrase, "OH!" or "Ohhhhh-OH!", was first heard in their 1929 sound film debut, "Unaccustomed As We Are," after his character's wife breaks a record over his head.
1929: Release of Big Business
The Laurel and Hardy short film "Big Business" was released in 1929.
1929: Big Business Released
The critically acclaimed silent film "Big Business" was released in 1929, featuring a destructive tit-for-tat battle between Laurel and Hardy and James Finlayson's character.
1930: The Cuckoo Song First Recording
The Laurel and Hardy theme song, "The Cuckoo Song," was first recorded in 1930 with two clarinets.
1930: The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case: A Catchphrase is Born
The famous catchphrase, "Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into!", was first used by Hardy in the 1930 film "The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case." Laurel's usual response included crying, pulling his hair, and exclaiming "Well, I couldn't help it..."
1930: The Rogue Song
In 1930, Laurel and Hardy appeared in the Technicolor musical "The Rogue Song." Most of their sequences are now lost.
1930: Solidifying the Partnership
By 1930, Laurel and Hardy had solidified their comedic partnership and characters under the guidance of Leo McCarey, a style they would maintain for three decades.
1931: Legal Name Change
Stan Laurel officially changed his name legally in 1931.
1933: Sons of the Desert Film Released
The film "Sons of the Desert," which inspired the name of the official Laurel and Hardy appreciation society, was released in 1933.
1935: The Cuckoo Song Orchestral Recording
An orchestral version of "The Cuckoo Song" was recorded in 1935.
1935: Release of Tit for Tat
The Laurel and Hardy short film "Tit for Tat" was released in 1935.
1936: Galaxy of Stars
Laurel and Hardy made a guest appearance in the 1936 promotional film "Galaxy of Stars".
1937: Way Out West: The Thumb Lighter
In 1937, Laurel and Hardy introduced the "thumb lighter" gag in their film "Way Out West." Laurel's character flicks his thumb as if it were a lighter, igniting it and using it to light Hardy's pipe.
1938: Block-Heads: Smoking a Fist
Building on the previous year's thumb lighter gag, Laurel's character lights his fist like a pipe in the 1938 film "Block-Heads," further showcasing their surreal humor.
1940: Departure from Hal Roach Studios
In 1940, Laurel and Hardy left Hal Roach Studios after a long and successful partnership.
1941: Start of B-Movie Era
From 1941, Laurel and Hardy began appearing in B-movie comedies for 20th Century Fox and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
1944: Focus on Stage Shows
After fulfilling their film commitments in 1944, Laurel and Hardy shifted their focus to stage performances.
1944: Radio Pilot Recording
Laurel and Hardy recorded a pilot for a potential NBC radio show, "The Laurel and Hardy Show," in 1944.
1945: End of B-Movie Era
In 1945, Laurel and Hardy's run of B-movie comedies for 20th Century Fox and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ended.
1950: Atoll K Production Begins
In 1950, Laurel and Hardy began production on their final film, "Atoll K," a French-Italian co-production.
1950: Atoll K
In 1950, Laurel and Hardy made their last film together, a French-Italian co-production called "Atoll K".
April 1951: Laurel and Hardy Return to America
After filming "Atoll K" in April 1951, Laurel and Hardy returned to America to rest and recover. Stan Laurel made a silent appearance in a TV newsreel called "Swim Meet".
1951: Atoll K: The Final Catchphrase
The duo's signature line, "Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into!", was spoken for the last time in their final film, "Atoll K", released in 1951.
1952: European Stage Appearances
In 1952, after recovering from health issues, Laurel and Hardy returned to the European stage with a new sketch.
September 9, 1953: Arrival in Cobh, Ireland
Laurel and Hardy arrived in Cobh, Ireland, on September 9, 1953, receiving a warm welcome.
1953: Laurel and Hardy's Tour of Britain and Ireland
In 1953, Laurel and Hardy embarked on a tour of Great Britain and Ireland.
1953: Laurel and Hardy Go to the Moon
In 1953, Laurel and Hardy were approached by the BBC for a radio series called "Laurel and Hardy Go to the Moon," which ultimately did not happen.
May 17, 1954: Final Stage Performance
Laurel and Hardy's last live stage performance took place on May 17, 1954, in Plymouth, UK.
December 1, 1954: This Is Your Life Appearance
On December 1, 1954, Laurel and Hardy made their only American television appearance on "This Is Your Life".
1954: Resumption of Stage Appearances
Laurel and Hardy returned to stage performances in 1954, continuing until their final appearances.
1954: Atoll K Re-Released as Utopia
In 1954, an American distributor re-edited and re-released "Atoll K" as "Utopia," removing 18 minutes of footage. This version became the most widely known.
1955: TV Guide Feature and This Is Music Hall
In 1955, Laurel and Hardy were featured in TV Guide and made an appearance on the BBC program "This Is Music Hall."
1956: Oliver Hardy's Health Decline
In 1956, Oliver Hardy experienced significant weight loss and suffered several strokes following a heart condition diagnosis.
1956: Final Filmed Appearance
Laurel and Hardy's final appearance on camera occurred in 1956 in a silent home movie filmed at Stan Laurel's daughter's home.
August 7, 1957: Death of Oliver Hardy
Oliver Hardy passed away on August 7, 1957.
1957: Death of Oliver Hardy
In 1957, Oliver Hardy, the American comedian and the other half of the Laurel and Hardy duo, died.
1960: Stan Laurel Consults for Jerry Lewis
Stan Laurel provided consultation for Jerry Lewis's 1960 film, "The Bellboy."
1960: Honorary Academy Award
Stan Laurel received a special Academy Award in 1960 for his comedic contributions to film.
1963: Stan Laurel Declines Acting Roles
After Oliver Hardy's passing, Stan Laurel declined further acting roles, including a cameo in "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World."
February 23, 1965: Death of Stan Laurel
Stan Laurel passed away on February 23, 1965.
1965: Posthumous Tributes to Laurel and Hardy
Following Stan Laurel's death in 1965, several tributes honored the comedic duo. These included film compilations like "Laurel and Hardy's Laughing '20s" and "The Great Race," as well as impersonations by other actors in various media.
1965: Death of Stan Laurel
In 1965, Stan Laurel, the English comedian and one half of the Laurel and Hardy duo, passed away.
1965: Sons of the Desert Society Founded
The official Laurel and Hardy appreciation society, The Sons of the Desert, was founded in 1965.
1966: Laurel and Hardy Cartoons
Larry Harmon co-produced a series of Laurel and Hardy cartoons with Hanna-Barbera Productions in 1966.
1967: Laurel and Hardy on the Sgt. Pepper's Album Cover
The Beatles included cutouts of Laurel and Hardy among the celebrities on the cover of their 1967 album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."
1970: Laurel and Hardy in Children's Literature
In 1970, illustrator Maurice Sendak featured three Oliver Hardy figures in his children's book "In the Night Kitchen."
1972: Guest Appearance on Scooby-Doo
The animated versions of Laurel and Hardy made a guest appearance on an episode of "The New Scooby-Doo Movies" in 1972.
1975: Trail of the Lonesome Pine Album Release
A compilation album of songs from Laurel and Hardy films, "Trail of the Lonesome Pine," was released in 1975.
1983: Colorization of Laurel and Hardy Films
In 1983, several Laurel and Hardy films, including "Helpmates," "Way Out West," and "The Music Box," were colorized and released on television and VHS.
1992: Big Business Enters National Film Registry
In 1992, "Big Business" was recognized for its cultural significance and added to the United States National Film Registry.
1992: Big Business Added to National Film Registry
In 1992, "Big Business" was recognized for its significance and preserved in the National Film Registry.
1999: The All New Adventures of Laurel & Hardy
In 1999, a direct-to-video live-action comedy, "The All New Adventures of Laurel & Hardy in For Love or Mummy," featuring characters inspired by the duo was released.
2005: Recognition as Seventh-Greatest Comedy Act
In 2005, a UK poll of professional comedians ranked Laurel and Hardy as the seventh-greatest comedy act of all time.
2005: Laurel and Hardy Ranked Among Greatest Comedians
In a 2005 poll of comedians, Laurel and Hardy were ranked the seventh-greatest comedy act of all time.
2011: Return to Black and White
Due to quality issues with the colorized versions and PAL conversion, distributors began re-releasing the original black-and-white Laurel and Hardy films in 2011.
2011: Laurel & Hardy Documentary Released
The documentary "Laurel & Hardy: Their Lives and Magic" was released in 2011, exploring the duo's lives and careers.
2015: The Battle of the Century Rediscovered
A more complete version of "The Battle of the Century," a 1927 pie-fight film starring Laurel and Hardy, was discovered in 2015.
2018: Stan & Ollie Biographical Film
The biographical film "Stan & Ollie," depicting Laurel and Hardy's 1953 tour, was released in 2018.